the rose festival –welland, june 19
TRANSCRIPT
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The rose festival – Welland, June 19ALWAYS an enjoyable (and long) parade in Welland. The crowds are always very appreciative at this annual event.
SEPTEmBEr 2011
gcc SEPTEMBER 2011
Published by The Optimists alumni
Drum and Bugle corps
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IN THIS ISSUE
PEOPLE NEWSNew Members and Associate Members
PErfOrmaNcES
Rose Festival Parade – Welland
Canada Day Parade – Port Dover
Spectacle of Sound – Sudbury
Warriors’ Day Parade – Toronto
Invitational Tattoo – Kitchener
Legends III Show – Oshawa
DCA Alumni Spectacular Show – Rochester, NY
1960 IS THE NEW cHaLLENgE
DO YOU KNOW?
PErfOrmaNcE ScHEDULE
Let the parade begin. Pipe Band from the Niagara Region.
Just a few of the many Parade Princesses.
Les Éclairs de Québec Drum & Bugle Corps.
Many High School bands enjoyed the good weather.
The Chapparells, Akron, Ohio.
Local dance schools
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The rose festival (continued)
The Northstar Colours.
The Niagara Militaires Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps.
The Optimists Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps.
Les Diplomates Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps from Québec City.
Dancing to the music of the steel band.
The evening show featured CADRE and The Optimists Alumni.
Many cultural organizations were part of the parade.The Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps from Sudbury.
PErfOrmaNcES
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canada Day Parade, Port Dover, July 1A beautiful resort town on the shore of Lake Erie was the location for our 2011 Canada parade.
Optimists Alumni warm up and filling up before the parade.
This gets you in the spirit. This house was across the street from where the Optimists prepared for the parade. It’s all in fun.
Kids love a parade.
Paris – Port Dover Pipe Band. We’re here to have fun and celebrate!
Tribute to local veterans and the Legion. “Uh Oh, I can’t eat my ice cream cone if I hold two flags”.
PErfOrmaNcES
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Midlanders Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps. The Gentlemen of Harmony. The Top Hat Marching Band.
The Optimists Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps wearing their hot weather parade tops.
There are corps members under all this. Maeve attempts a beauty sleep… again. The usual dignified group at the back of the bus.
canada Day Parade (continued)
PErfOrmaNcES
Simcoe United Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps. The Milking Maids. Red and white were the colours of the day.
Spectacle of Sound, Sudbury, July 9 and 10A bus trip reminiscent of those “Back In The Day”. The corps arrived in Sudbury on Saturday in time for an afternoon
rehearsal. Dinner was sponsored by the Sudbury Imperial Knights and held at the Polish Combatants Hall, followed by an
impromptu trip to the famous Sudbury Nickle on the way back to the hotel. After
dinner, a party was hosted by Toronto Signals celebrating Ron Jordan’s 88th
birthday, Ron guards the National Flag for Signals. Everyone had a great time.
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Saturday: Practicing on the grounds of the beautiful Laurentian University.
Northstar Colours.
Dinner – Standing l-r: Toby Flechette, Doug Johns(Signals), Rick Lang and Joe Gianna.
Our dinner hosts at the Polish Compatants Hall.l to r: George Pabisz, Member, Michael Slawny,Vice President and George Aniol, President.
Quads, snares and tenor line. Drum Major, Jeff MacKay.
Sunday: Spectacle of Sound – Leading off the show, The Toronto Signals. Les Stentors from Sherbrooke, Québec.
Spectacle of Sound (continued)
PErfOrmaNcES
Members of Signals celebrate Ron Jordan’s 88th birthday at an after dinner party. Ron is inthe Colour Guard and guards the National flag.
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Sudbury Imperial Knights. The Optimists Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps – Horns.
The Optimists Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps. – Drum Line
The Blue Saints from Sudbury. “March Past”, part of the closing ceremonies.
Colour Guard. Northstar Colours.
Spectacle of Sound – Finale The combined horns from all corps played “Danny Boy”.
Spectacle of Sound (continued)
PErfOrmaNcES
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PEOPLE NEWS is an ongoing feature telling the personal stories of our members. We are not just brassplayers, drum majors, drummers, colour party, etc…. we are indeed more than the sum of our parts.
Please feel free to nominate someone for future publications by getting in touch with our editorial team. See page 12 for contact details.
PEOPLE NEWS
WHaT a grEaT YEar – THE NOrTHSTar cOLOUrS
Keith Dearlove (Contra) Keith with his daughter watching Les Diplomates
perform after the rained out show in Kitchener.
Matthew Davis (Baritone)
For the past 20 years Matthew has always played
a musical instrument, including the piano, trombone
and baritone horn. He marched in DCI with
Dutch Boy from 2003 to 2005. Matthew played with
East Coast Jazz who finished in 2nd place in
Division 2 at DCI. He aged out in 2006. He is
currently studying for a degree in Accounting from
Conestoga College in Kitchener.
They say drum corps is family oriented. Never was it more true than when
Keith, his charming wife Kim and a number of their 10 children joined us after
the Port Dover parade to quench a hot day’s thirst in the local parking lot.
Keith thus became our all important bottom brass voice (with his contra bass)
through to DCA’s Alumni Spectacular.
Let's hear a big “Wooo!” for these five
beautiful young ladies and their
instructors who, for a second summer,
graced our parades and field shows.
Thanks for being there. We hope you can
join us again in the future (yes we’d love
to have 1/2 your energy).
New members
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP has its benefits... be part of the Optimists family; this is a way for you to support the Corpsand stay connected. By paying a small annual fee you are entitled to participate in Corps functions, you are eligible to vote and stand for election. You’ll also receive member-only emails, access to the members section of the web site, and a freeticket to our show “Legends IV”. Get in touch: [email protected]
Joselyn, Madison, Alana, Maeve and Erin at thecorps party in Rochester.
During concert at the DCA Alumni Spectacular in Rochester.
Legends III Show in Oshawa.
From Drum corps World –
September 2011 issue (Keith Gammon)
The Optimists hornline shined from the
get-go, exhibiting a warm tone… The
guard, from the Northstar Performing Youth
Organization, had a more modern book
than most alumni corps… The drumline
exhibited flair during their solo, making
use of stick visuals… The Optimists
showed the crowd both substance and
style during their performance.
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PErfOrmaNcES
Legends III, Oshawa, august 6The third annual Legends of Drum Corps Show was held at the newly renovated Oshawa Community Fields. The show wasdedicated to Optimists Alumni member Sam Grosvenor who passed away during a summer practice.
Opening ceremonies. Colour guards present coloursfor the singing of O’Canada.
Brian Hogan, Master of Ceremonies.
Midlanders Alumni Corps.
The Sudbury Imperial Knights.
Preston Scout House Alumni Band. The Optimists Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps.
Toronto Signals Band.
Heather Hyslop. Massed bands playing “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.Drum Major, Jeff MacKay
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Warriors’ Day Parade, Toronto and The Invitational Tattoo, Kitchener, august 20The Optimists participated in The Warriors’ Day Parade in tribute to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 344, where we hold rehearsals. Unfortunately the Preston Scout House Invitational Tattoo was rained out; however, there was an impromptu show in the curling rink beside the stadium. The Optimists Alumni and Les Diplomates performed.
PErfOrmaNcES
Dca alumni Spectacular, rochester, Sept 3 and 4This is always an enjoyable weekend with so many outstanding Drum Corps.
Warriors’ Day Parade – CNE. Les Diplomates Colours. Les Diplomates played their entire show and then some.
Kimiko Yamada was a member in 2010 and joined us while on a short vacation from Japan. Optimists impromptu presentation.
Afternoon rehearsal, Saturday, September 3,
Afternoon rehearsal. Corps party at a restaurant near Lake Ontario.
Ric Brown handing outhumourous “Awards” todeserving members. The Freelancers from California opened the show. D.M. Jeff MacKay. Optimists entering the field ready to perform.
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2012 OPTImISTS aLUmNI – BOarD Of DIrEcTOrS
President: Ric Brown
Vice President: Bryan Adam
Treasurer: Mike Lang
PErfOrmaNcES
Dca alumni Spectacular (continued)
High five before concert. Northstar Colours getting the crowd into the moves.Lifting the horns for maximum effect. Presenting the colours.
Jeff making it happen Swing’n and sway’n in concert to Moonlight Serenade,Drum Boogie, and Caravan.
Traditional end of performance “March Past”.
corps Buttonscanadian corps from the
1976 and 1977 periodIncludes a couple of older St. John’s buttons
All are in mint condition
If interested, please contact
Doug Smith at:
Secretary: Carol Munro
Director Doug Darwinat Large:
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DO YOU SEE YOUrSELf? DO YOU rEcOgNIZE aNY Of YOUr fOrmEr mEmBErS frOm 1960THE cHaLLENgE. This photo was taken at the Toronto Island ferry Docks in 1960. gcc would appreciate hearing from you if you think you know who they are. Please E-mailyour information to Bob carell at: [email protected]. Thank you to Phil Henningsfor providing this rare photograph and some of the names to the best of his recollection attime of Web publication.
1960challenge
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Drum Major Phil Hennings and the corps, 1960.
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PrOPOSED 2011 – 2012 OPTImISTS aLUmNI ScHEDULE
The schedule below is under review at time of publication. Please check the website for an updated schedule.
Sunday September 25, 2011 Annual General Meeting Confirmed 12:00 noon Canadian Legion, Toronto
Saturday October 22 Performance Confirmed 1:00 pm London, Ontario
Sunday October 23 Performance Confirmed 1:00 pm Palais Royale, Toronto
Saturday November 19 Santa Clause Parade Confirmed 9:00 am Oakville, Ontario
Saturday November 19 Santa Clause Parade Confirmed 5:00 pm Georgetown, Ontario
Sunday November 20 Santa Clause Parade Confirmed 1:30 pm Guelph, Ontario
Saturday November 26 Santa Clause Parade Confirmed 11:00 am Uxbridge, Ontario
Saturday November 26 Santa Clause Parade Confirmed 5:00 pm Fenelon Falls
Sunday November 27 Santa Clause Parade Confirmed 1:00 pm Mississauga, Ontario
Saturday May 12, 2012 Performance Confirmed 7:00 pm Simcoe, Ontario
Friday to Sunday May 18 to 20 Parade and performance TBA 3 days West Virginia, USA
Monday May 21 Parade and performance Confirmed 10:00 am Woodstock, Ontario
Saturday June 2 Parade and rehearsal Confirmed 10:00 am Bobcaygeon, Ontario
gcc STaff
Editor: Paul Thompson.
Editorial Staff: Brian Byrne, Bob Carell and David Johns.
Staff photographers: David Johns, Eric McConachie
and Frans Rood.
Consultant: Don Daber.
Contributor: Mike Lang
CORRECTIONS: We tried to get everything right. If not, please
let us know: [email protected]
A special thank you to all those who send photographs to the
Optimists Alumni. Your initiative is appreciated.
DO YOU KNOW?
In each issue there will be questions related to Drum corps,past and present. The winner will be selected randomlyfrom entries having the correct answers and will receive theOptimists anniversary Plaque showing photos from 1955 to1978. The answers will appear in the next issue.
There was no winner this time.
aNSWErS – maY
1. Who arranged the Optimists 1972 concert? Larry Kerchner
2. How tall was the 1972 National flag pole. How did itwork and who created it? (OK, OK, it’s three questions) (a) Approximately 11 feet (b) rope pulley
(c) Ben Burrage
3. Which 1972 soloist became instructor for the Optimists Peter Byrne
4. What are the names of the instructors who led theOptimists to their 12th championship in 1972? Paul Thompson, Ron Kaiser, Dave Parker
qUESTIONS fOr DEcEmBEr
1. Who was the first Director of the Optimists AlumniDrum Corps?
2. Who were the four founding of the Optimists AlumniDrum Corps?
3. When was the first public appearance where the currentAlumni uniform was first worn?
Please send your answers by Thursday, October 20, 2011 to:David Johns at: [email protected]
gcc MAY 2011
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